Receptacle filling and draining device



March 6, 1934. G v GAVAZA 1,950,172

RECEPTACLE FILLING AND DRAINING DEVICE Filed Dec. 13. 1952 3 f .1t-toria@ y Patented Mar. 6, 1934 PATENT cerise RECEPTACLE FILLING AND DRAINING DEVICE George V. Gavaza, Quincy, Mass.

Application December 13, 1932, Serial No. 646,971

13 Claims.

The present invention relates to receptacle filling and draining devices such, for example, as are used to fill and drain the tubs of household clothes washing machines.

It has been proposed heretofore to provide households with devices for filling and draining the tubs of clothes washing machines. These devices usually comprise a T having three out.- lets, a coupling for connecting one of the outlets to a faucet, and two flexible conduits connected 1 to the other two outlets. One of these conduits is longer than the other and has its free end resting in a receptacle to be drained. The free end of the shorter of the two conduits is adapted to fit over the mouth .of a hot water faucet so that both hot and cold water may be placed in the receptacle. When the device is used for draining, the shorter of the two conduits is disconnested from the hot water faucet and the free end is rested in the sink. To insure proper siphonic action the shorter Aconduit carries an air bale. Such constructions are suited for sinks having two faucets, but advancements in modern plumbing fixture construction tend to do away with the two faucet type of sink. The result has been that great variety exists inthe plumbing fixtures in houses and apartments at the present time. Where there is but one faucet, the shorter of the two conduits is entirely unnecessary for lling a receptacle. It .is-'therefore desirable to provide a mung and draining device which dispenses with thisconduit. At the same time, since many two-faucet sinks exist, it is also desirable .that means be provided for'using such a device with two faucets, thusadapting the ller and drainer to universal use. Such devices are not entirely new, for ithas been proposed hereto- -fore to eliminate the shorter conduit found in older devices. But the diiiiculty with these constructions has been that after eliminating the shorter conduit nomeans hasbeen provided for making the device adaptable for use with two faucets. The third outlet of the T of these devices merely carries a nozzle in which a at valve or ball valve is placed, thenozzle being provided with means whereby it may be secured-to the outlet in various positions. With either type of valve Water is splashed about the mouth of the nozzle into the sink when the faucet is turned on initially for draining, and the operation of the devices causes considerable noise.

It is therefore the principal object of the present invention to provide a filling and draining device which may be used either with or without the shorter conduit found in prior art constructions, which is provided with a baille that does not splash Water about the mouth of the conduit when the faucet is turned on initially, and which is silent in its operation.

To the accomplishment of this object and such 69 others as may hereinafter appear, the features of the present invention reside in certain devices, combinations, and arrangements of parts fully set forth hereinafter and then pointed out in the appended claims which possess advantages readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

The various features of the present invention will be readily understood from an inspection of the accompanying drawing illustrating the best form of the invention at present known to the inventor, in which,

Figure 1- is a view in elevation showing the device for use in filling and draining a receptacle;

Fig. 2 is a detail view in enlarged elevation, 15 partially in section, showing the T provided with threeoutlets, the coupling for connecting the T to a threaded faucet, the discharge nozzle, and the valve in position therein to act as a baffle;

Fig. 3, similar to Fig. 2, is a detail view in en- 8.0

vlarged sectional elevation showing the valve closing the discharge outlet;

Fig. .4 is a detail view in elevation of the nozzle .and the silencer;

Fig. 5 is a detail View in sectional plan of the 85 nozzle taken along the line 5-5, Fig. 3, and

Fig. 6 is a detail view in sectional elevation showing a modied form of the valve within the discharge nozzle.

In vthe illustrated embodiment of the present invention the combined lling and draing device comprises a T 6 (Fig. 2) having three outlets '7, 8, and 9. Adjacent the outlet 7 the T 6 is corrugated and shouldered to receive one end of a exibleconduit 10 (Fig. 1) the other end 95 of which extends into a receptacle 11 to be lled or drained. The conduit 10 may be secured to the outlet 'l by means of a ferrule 12. The outlet 8 is shouldered and externally threaded as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and the mouth of the outlet 100 8 is internallybeveled to form a valve seat 13.

A collar 14 fits over the portion of the T formed by the walls of the outlet 9, as shown in Fig. 3, and a rubber washer 15 is interposed between the collar 14 and the T. The collar 14 is pro- .105 vided with a flange 16 which abuts a flange 17 of an internally threaded faucet coupling 18 of the usual type carrying a rubber washer 19 which forms an abutment for the mouth of a faucet When the collar 14 and the coupling 18 110 tions upon the outlet.

are assembled, the flanges 16 and 17 are held in engagement by means of a ring 2l fitting an annular groove 22 around the collar 14. The outlet 9 is provided with a downwardly tapering restricted passage 23 terminating in a cylindrical restricted passage 24 smaller in diameter than the outlet 8.

Threaded to the outlet 8 is a bell-shaped nozzle 26 through which liquid passes into a sink during the draining operation. integral with the nozzle 26 and positioned internally thereof are a valve 27 and ribs 28 (Figs. 2, 3 and 5) for joining the valve to the internal walls of the nozzle. 'Ihe nozzle 26, the valve 27, and the ribs 28 are preferably cast in one piece, but this construction is not necessary since these three parts may be made separately and then secured together. As shown in Fig. 5, the valve 27 and the ribs 28 do not cover the opening of the nozzle 26 since a space must be left to permit the passage of liquid through the nozzle.

The valve 27 is provided with a frusto-conical portion 29 having a bevel like that of the Valve seat 13 at the mouth of the outlet 8. The top of the Valve 27 is provided with a concave impingement surface 30 adapted to deflectv liquid upward vtoward the mouth of the outlet 8. The threading on the outlet 8 extends far enough up to permit the nozzle 26 to assume different posi- The nozzle 26 is preferably knurled externally around its mouth as shownat 31 (Fig. 4) to permit easy turning.

The various features of the present invention are designed for use on a single or swing combination type of faucet, and may be used either as a filler or as a combined filler and drainer. When used simply as a filler, the nozzle 26 is turned to the right (Fig. 3) to cause the valve 27 to engage the valve seat 13 and thereby close the outlet 8. When the water is turned on it fills the chamber within the T 6, and then necessarily passes through the outlet 7 and the conduit 10 into the receptacle 11.

When it is desired to drain liquid from the receptacle 11, the nozzle 26 is turned to the left and the valve 27 is thereby unseated, as sho-Wn in Fig. 2. The water is turned on, and velocity is imparted to it by the downward tapering of the passage 23. The cylindrical passage 24 converts the stream of water into a jet which tends to travel vertically downward and centrally through the T and the outlet 8. Because the cylindrical passage 24 has a diameter smaller than that of the outlet 8, it is clear that an annular space is left between the jet of water and the walls of the T 6. When the jet of water issues from the passage 24, it strikes the concave impingement surface 30 of the valve 27 and is deflected upwards towards the outlet 8 to form a water seal preventing theV passage of air into the outlet. By making the impingement surface 30 concave there is no splashing of water about the mouth of the nozzle when the faucet is .turned on initially. The water is deflected away from the mouth of the nozzle and not laterally or downward towards it. Because of its velocity upon issuing from the passage 24, the jet of water tends to draw air out of the outlet 7 and the conduit 10, thereby creating a condition of unbalanced pressure so that the pressure of the atmospheric air on the liquid in the receptacle l1 forces the 'liquid up the conduit 10 and into the passage in the T 6 so that it is filled with liquid.

It is thus apparent that the valve 27-func tions onlyinitially as a baflle, for as soon as `the vbeforeturning on the faucet.

T 6 is filled with liquid, this liquid itself acts as a baille preventing the entrance of air into the outlet 8. Stated in another Way, the function of the concave impingeinent surface 30 of the valve 27 is to initiate siphonic action by forming a preliminary water seal about the outlet 8. When this seal is effected, and this occurs as soon as the faucet is turned on, liquid immediately begins to dra-in from the receptacle 11 into the T 6. When this liquid is drawn into the T 6 so as to ll it, the baliie function of the valve 27 has been performed, and no air can enter the outlet 8 because of the presence of the liquid in the whole passage within the T 6.

The liquid from the receptacle 1l flows past the valve 27 and through the nozzle 26. Since the valve 27 serves to restrict this flow of liquid, draining speed can be increased by turning the nozzle 26 further to the left to increase the distance between the valve 27 and the outlet 8.

Combined fillers and drainers of most types are designed for use with the free end of the Vconduit l0 placed within the receptacle 11, as

shown in Fig. l. With some types of washing -machines, however, itis customary to attach the p free end of the` conduit l0 to the drain cock of the receptacle to be lled. This practice requires great care, since it has been found that in many instances the user forgets to open the drain cock In this manner the conduit l0 is subjected to the full force of the city water pressure. As the commercial tubing with which these devices are furnished is-not designed to withstand city water pressure unless the tubing has an open end, the practice of not opening the drain cock results in a straining or bursting of the conduit. To insure that no dam- Yage will occur with such a misuse the present invention may be provided with a pressure relief valve, one typeof which is shown at 32 (Fig. 6)

within the nozzle 26.

'I'hevalve 32 is provided with a concave impingement surface 30 and a frusto-conical surface 29 identical with the corresponding surfaces of the valve 27. The valve 32 is also provided with Aa flanged base 33 the upper face of which engages an annular shoulder .34 formed at the upper end of a hollow cylinder 35. Securing the `cylinder 35 to the nozzle 26 to form preferably an integral structure are two ribs 36. The bottom of the cylinder 35 is closed by a threaded plug 37. The Aflanged base 33 of the valve 32 iskept normally' inengagement with the annular .shoulder 34 by means of a coil spring 38, one 'endL of which engages the bottom of the valve 32 and the other end of which rests upon the plug 37. To permit theescape of air when the valve '38. may be regulatedby means of theplug 37,

but' it is desirable that the. spring be tensioned lao to. withstand pressures' up to 65 pounds before i' vyielding, as pressuresgreater than this amount are apt to harm the tubing of which the conduit ".10 is made.

when the present V11m/ennemis used with the pressure relief valve 32 and the user. negligently forgets to open the drain cock of the receptacle before turning on the faucet for filling, the

valve-32 will be thrust downward when pressure 'isfbuiltupifto 'ia point `beyondthe resistancesof the spring 38, and faucet water will escape out the nozzle 26. In this manner the conduit 10'is protected from damage by excessive water pressure.

The present invention has been provided with a concave impingement surface to eliminate the splashing that occurs about the mouth of the nozzles of devices of this class when the faucet is turned on initially. Considerable noise is caused by constructions having a baiile valve adjacent the discharge outlet of the T, and this noise is increased when the liquid, passing beyond the valve, enters the nozzle and commingles with the air in the nozzle. To silence this noise, one end of a short piece of flexible tubing 40 (Figs. 2, 3, and 4), may, if desired, be inserted within the mouth of the nozzle 26 in abutment with an annular shoulder 4l. 'Ihe inserted end of the tubing 40 restricts the area within the nozzle 26 beneath the valve 27, and because of this restriction the agitated liquid is collected into a body. In this manner the inserted end of the tubing serves as a baiiie preventing air from entering the nozzle and mixingwith the liquid, and the liquid is discharged from `the nozzle without noise or splashing. The present invention thus shows a double baffle construction, having one baie provided with a concave impingement surface splashing water upwardly to form a seal permitting siphonic action, and a second baffle for eliminating the noise and splash made by the first baie.

Since the liquid emerges beneath the valve 27 into a space wider than that above the valve, the pressure of the liquid is reduced. To offset this reduction of pressure the tubing 40 should be of sufficient length to create a body of liquid resisting the tendency or" air to rush past the end of the tubing into the nozzle. Experimentation has shown that if the tubing 40 has an internal diameter of three quarters of an inch, the length of the tubing should be about two and one half inches. The tubing 40 may be and preferably is used with the nozzle and pressure relief valve 32 shown in Fig. 6. The tubing 40 need not be iiexible, but may be made of any material suitable for the purpose, and may be threaded to the nozzle.

The present invention may be used for filling a receptacle from two faucets (not shown) by removing the nozzle 26 and replacing it with the shorter exibe conduit disclosed in my Patent No. 1,891,639, December 20, 1932, the free end of this conduit being placed over the mouth of the second faucet. When it is desired to use the device for draining, the shorter conduit need only be disconnected from the second faucet and the free end rested in the sink. Since this conduit, as disclosed in my above mentioned patent, is provided with a baffle, draining will commence as soon as the faucet water is turned on. Should it be desired to ll from only one faucet, the free end of the shorter conduit is easily plugged by tting it over the boss 42 (Figs. 1, 2, and 3) carried by the T 6.

It will be clear to those skilled in this class of devices and with the general objects of the present invention in view, that changes may be made in the details of structure, the described and illustrated embodiment thereof being intended as an exploitation of its underlying essentials, the features whereof are definitely stated in their true scope in the claims herewith.

What is claimed as new, is:

l. In a combined ller and drainer. the combination with a T having three outlets, a coupling for connecting one of said outlets to a faucet, a conduit connected to another of said outlets. and a hollow member carried by the third outlet and provided with a free end through which all water entering the hollow member is discharged, of means secured within said hollow member independently of the wall extremities thereof and provided with a concave impingement surface in alignment with and spaced from the third outlet for forming a water seal to pren vent the passage of air into the third outlet during the draining operation.

2. In a combined filler and drainer, the combination with a T having three outlets, a coupling for connecting one of said outlets to a faucet, and a conduit connected to another of said outlets, of a Valve operatively connected to and movable into and out of engagement with the third outlet and provided with a concave impingernent surface in alignment with and spaced from the third outlet for deflecting water towards the third outlet to create a water seal when the valve is open to permit draining.

3. In a combined filler and drainer, the combination with a T having three outlets, a coupling for connecting one of said outlets to a faucet, a conduit connected to another of said outlets, and a nozzle connected to the third outlet, of means carried by the nozzle independently of the wall extremities thereof and provided with a concave impingement surface in alignment with and spaced from the third outlet for forming a water seal to prevent the passage of air into the third outlet during the draining operation.

4. In a comb-ined ller and drainer, the combination with a T having three outlets, one of said outlets carrying a coupling for connecting the outlet to a faucet, a second of said outlets being connected to a conduit, and the third of said outlets having a discharge end provided with a valve seat, of a valve operatively connected to the third outlet and provided with a frusto-conical portion engaging said seat to close the outlet when the valve is in a position of closure and with a concave impingement surface for deiiecting water towards the discharge end of the third outlet to form a water seal when the valve is in a different position.

5. In a combined filler and drainer, the combination with a T having three outlets, one of said outlets carrying a coupling for connecting the outlet to a faucet, a second of said outlets being connected to a conduit, and a third of said outlets having a discharge end provided with a valve seat, and a movable nozzle carried by the third outlet, of a valve carried by the nozzle in alignment with said discharge end and provided with a concave impingement surface for forming a water seal during the draining operation and with a frusto-conical surface engageable with the valve seat to close the third outlet during the filling operation.

6. In a combined filler and drainer, the combination with a T having three outlets, a coupling for connecting one of said outlets to a faucet, a conduit connected to another of said outlets, a nozzle connected to the third outlet, and a baille supported by said nozzle and spaced from the third outlet for preventing a flow of air into the third outlet during the draining operation, of a baiiie removably carried interiorly of said nozzle and spaced from said first named baiiie for preventing a iiow of air into the nozzle to the first named baiiie.

7. In a combined filler and drainer. the combination with a T having three outlets, a coupling for connecting one of said outlets to a faucet, a conduit connected to another of said outlets, and means provided with a concave impingement surface aligned With and spaced from the third outlet for creating a splash of water to form a Water seal about the third outlet during the draining operation, of means spaced from said surface for silencing the noise made by the splash.

8. In a combined ller and drainer, the combination with a T having three outlets, a coupling for connecting one of said outlets to a faucet, a conduit connected to anotherof said outlets, and means provided with a. concave impingement surface aligned With and spaced from the third outlet to form a water seal about the third outlet during the draining operation, .of means spaced from said surface for eliminating the splash and for silencing the noise made by the splash.

9. In a combined ller and drainer, the combination with a T having three: outlets, a coupling for connecting one of said outlets to a faucet, a conduit connected to another of said outlets, a nozzle carried by the third outlet, and a baffle carried by the nozzle interiorly thereof for splashing Water to form a `Water seal preventing the flow of air into the third outlet during the draining operation, of meansengaged With the nozzle interiorly of the mouth thereof for eliminating the splash and for silencing the noise made by the splash. p l

l0. I n a combined ller and drainer, the combi'- nation with a T having three outlets, a coupling for connecting one of said outlets to a faucet, a conduit connected to anotherof said outlets, a nozzle carried by the third outlet, and a baffle carried by the nozzle interiorlythereof for splashing Water to form a water seal preventing the flow of air into the third outlet during the draining operation, of a short tubing one end of which is carried by the nozzle interiorly thereof for eliminating the splash and for silencing the noise made by the splash.

1l. In a combined filler and drainer, the combination with a T having three outlets, a coupling for connecting one of said outlets to a faucet, a conduit connected to another of said outlets, and a nozzle connected to the third outlet, of a combined air baffle and pressure relief valve carried by the nozzle interiorly thereof and in alignment with the third outlet.

12. In a combined ller and drainer, the combination with a T having three outlets, a coupling for connecting one of said outlets to a faucet, a conduit connected to another of said outlets, a nozzle movably connected to the third outlet, and a baiile valve carried by the nozzle in alignment With the third outlet, said valve closing the third outlet when the nozzle is in one position and preventing the flow of air along the third outlet in one direction while allowing liquid to flow through the outlet in the opposite direction when the nozzle is in a different position, of means engaged with the valve and yieldable under the influence of a pressure exceeding a predetermined pressure for opening the valve While the nozzle is maintained in its rst named position.

13. In a combined ller and drainer, the combination with a T having three outlets, a coupling for connecting one of said outlets to a faucet, a conduit connected to another of said outlets, la nozzle movably connected to the third outlet, and a valve carriedby the nozzle in alignment with the third outlet, said valve having a concave impingement surface for splashing Water towards the third outlet to form a water seal preventing the passage of air intothe third outlet when the valve is spaced therefrom, of means adapting the valve to Withstanda predetermined pressure to maintain the third outlet closed when the valve is in engagement with the third outlet and for yielding under the influence of a pressure which exceeds said predetermined pressure.

GEORGE v. GAvAzA. 

